It is physically impossible to cry and do mental math at the same time.
Yes
This is the amygdala (anxiety brain region) Vs. whatever brain region does math... this is what enables me to board airplanes (they PETRIFY me).
Specifically I use a technique taught at my kids' school designed to reduce anxiety called "square breathing" ...4 counts in, 4 counts held, 4 counts out, 4 counts held, repeat (over and over, if you're me at an airport
)
They use the simple square breathing so that it reaches everyone, not just the math kids. It does the same thing. As my doc says, there is solid scientific evidence that it works. It's reciprocal brain metabolism, or something like that, I'm assuming... when you count (or do math), it wakes up the "math" region while it powers down the amygdala.
(Interestingly, I recall reading somewhere that the amygdala is also partially involved in learning and that giftedness can result in increased activity in the amygdala). Explains a lot.
